New Releases for the New Year!

AZA and BBG,

As IC quickly approaches, many exciting contests and informational packets have been released. See below for information about each competition.

I-AwardsOn www.bbyo.org/ilead you can find the 2013 International Awards Packet and the official Awards Point Tracker to tally points for the Shield of David and Star of Deborah Awards. We want to see record Monsky, Albert and Bisgyer award recipients this year. Our goal is to celebrate as many chapter and individual achievements at IC as possible. Make sure all of your counterparts and the members of your chapter and council/region/community are aware of the packet and deadlines! All awards are due to AZABBGAwards@gmail.com by February 1, 2013!

AZA and BBG Storytelling and OratoryStorytelling and Oratory are two of our oldest traditions in AZA and BBG. Our goal is to see every council, region, and community submit at least one piece for each competition. Oratory and Storytelling is a 1 page essay/story you write about one of the themes below. Submissions are due by February 1, 2013 to AZABBGAwards@gmail.com. Winners will be printed in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), the definitive source for American Jewish community news and opinion.

AZA Themes:
Oratory: What does "brotherly love" look like in 2013 and how can it be made stronger?
Storytelling: Your chapter goes on a hike and finds a briefcase with $1,000,000 inside, and a simple note that says "do what you want." What do you do with the money?
BBG Themes:
Oratory: Is Judaism a religion, race or culture? Can it be all three? Is it something entirely different?
Storytelling: This one time at Convention...

IC Spirit GuideThe 2013 Spirit Guide for International Convention 2013 is posted at the top of the AZA BBG IC 2013 Facebook group. Please be sure that your entire delegation receives the information in the Spirit Guide, as it can serve as an early packing list guideline.

89/69 Election GuideThe 2013 International Elections Declaration Guide for the AZA and BBG leaders that are seeking a position on the 89th Grand Board of the Aleph Zadik Aleph and the 69th International Board of the B'nai B'rith Girls can be found on www.bbyo.org/ilead. If you are interested in running, please read through the entirety of the packet before making any further decisions. The first deadline is January 10, 2013.

BBYO Connect Leadership Engagement SummitWe are excited to announce the first BBYO Connect Leadership Engagement Summit before International Convention. This 24-hour BBYO Connect Leadership Engagement Summit is all expenses paid (including fee for flight change, if necessary, up to $150) and will run side-by-side with February's International Executives Conference in Washington, D.C. This summit is open to all current sophomores and juniors that currently hold or plan be a leader for BBYO Connect in their chapters, councils or regions and are attending International Convention. From Wednesday, February 13th through Thursday, February 14th, Alephs and B'nai B'rith Girls that serve as chapter, council or regional BBYO Connect chairpersons will explore ways to further develop BBYO Connect and build skills to increase chapter involvement in BBYO Connect programming. Special emphasis will be on sharing strategies to achieve strong 8th grade recruitment and transitioning Jewish teens from middle school involvement to high school participation. Those interested should submit a paragraph of intent (including: name, chapter, council or region, current role in BBYO Connect, phone number, e-mail address and a statement as to why they are interested in attending/a summary of their involvement in BBYO Connect efforts to date) along with an advisor or staff approval to connect@bbyo.org by Sunday, January 20th. Once teens are accepted by e-mail confirmation, teens will be directed to b-linked.org for registration.

We encourage you to read through and look at all of these outstanding opportunities. AZA BBG IC 2013 is almost a month away, and we could not be any more excited!